Jim Clark's 65 winning Lotus Ford outfitted with new Firestone tires made to replicate original ones

Dennis Ashlock/Firestone

When the Henry Ford Museum decided to conserve its 1965 Indianapolis 500-winning, Jim Clark Lotus-Ford 38/1, the car was carefully worked on to make sure it remained as original as possible.

Forty-six years later, thanks to Firestone Racing, the last piece of the conservation is complete as Firestone today presented Henry Ford Museum with a special set of replica “Indy” tires that will be on the car when it makes a historic return to the track as part of pre-race ceremonies for Sunday’s centennial running of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race.

Al Unser Sr., one of only three men to have won the Indy 500 four times, will be behind the wheel of the car when it takes a historic lap of the Speedway on Sunday. The Lotus-Ford 38/1 was chosen to represent the 1960s era of cars.

MODERATOR: Welcome to the Economaki Press Conference Center for a very big part of the full festivities of the running of the Indianapolis 500, the pit stop competition. Some money, of course, and a lot of prestige and pride involved in this, as well.

Tim, I'll turn to you. Normally we have the driver as the star of the show, and rightfully so; they're the ones out there putting it all on the line. But this is an event that really showcases the people that can get you into Victory Lane and this is their moment to shine, your team behind you.

TIM CINDRIC: Yeah, thank you. The stars of this program obviously are these guys behind us, Matt and his guys. Rick Rinaman also had a big part in getting these guys prepared in the offseason. Obviously, he's been on the other side of the wall before in his own right. But you're right, this isn't a day about anything more than the pride that comes to winning this particular contest. Our organization spends a lot of time preparing for this because it's just a testament to the dedication and the execution it takes on Race Day.

MODERATOR: One of the things I've always really admired about Mr. Penske when it comes to this event, he makes it very clear, "I want to win every contest that is held, period," that's what he says, Matt. You've won this yourself in 2005, and this is a moment of pride for you as well. Congratulations.

MATTJONSSON: Thank you very much. Yeah, it's not just for me; it's obviously for the guys, the whole crew here. I want to mention the 12 car and the 3 car. The pit practice, they put up such a great challenge that it raises our bar as a team, as well. And certainly thanks to Rick (Rinaman) that does our coaching anymore. Same thing, Ryan as you said, you know, it's about the driver, as well. He's very consistent coming in right on his marks, cool, calm and collected all around. The whole crew, Ryan and everything. That's why the stops are so consistent, I think.

MODERATOR: Rick is the ultimate warrior. How much does it kill him not to be flying over there with you?

JONSSON: Hopefully he is flying over there with us.

RYAN BRISCOE: Actually, he was hanging over the wall cheering me on before all this started.

CINDRIC: I think Rick is more nervous not doing it.

JONSSON: Yeah, you know, it's the never-die spirit, and that carries over to the whole team. Roger has the same spirit, and it rubs off on the whole team, that's for sure.

MODERATOR: Ryan, I suspect as a driver we always look at you when you're standing in Victory Lane and getting your picture and there's the glory, et cetera. We don't get the behind-the-scenes look when you have to go by and look at Tim Cindric and Roger Penske in the eye when things didn't go well. In this competition, this is where you can really screw up and the glory gets taken away from these individuals behind you. Do you feel pressure in this event?

BRISCOE: Yeah, sure. This event is really all about these guys behind me and all the work they put in in these couple of weeks we're here practicing every day. But year round back in Mooresville, they're practicing every single week and putting in the hours so that we can come here and try to win this and win races with good pit stops. Certainly for me today with all the fans, it's a day for them to showcase themselves in front of everybody, and really all I can do is screw it up for them. I just try to be consistent, hit my marks, and try to treat it as though I'm in the race. That's exactly what I have to do in a race situation and be consistent, hit my marks, and it makes it good for these guys, too.

Q: Ryan and Tim and Matt even, you're sponsored by IZOD for this race, and they sponsored the pit stop thing, so you've already kind of given them a return on their investment, so to speak. How important was it to do that for them being a new sponsor?

CINDRIC: With IZOD coming on board, you know, we've been trying to get them in Victory Lane here the first few races; we've been really close. There would be nothing better or nothing sweeter than to win this race, but to win the pit stop contest with their name on it is awesome. Now we've just got to get Jeff to get these guys a trophy. That's the next step in this program.

BRISCOE: No, I agree, a trophy would be great. They certainly deserve one. But I think on Sunday, you know, these pit stops are definitely going to help us get to the front. It's so important every single race, and this race more than any other because we'll be having six, seven, eight, maybe nine pit stops on Sunday, and it can really make a big difference. We have a good pit stall in the race, that's going to help us, too, and I believe we'll have a great race car. All things put together, pit stops included, hopefully we can get to the front and go racing for the win here.

Q: Obvious question: Pit stops will be a major part Sunday for a victory, and any three of you, what makes this pit crew better or different than the other crews out there today?

CINDRIC: You can answer that, Matt.

JONSSON: Like I said before, I think the 3 and the 12 is very, very good, as well. It's really, like I said, I mean Ryan did his part today, which it's huge for us that he comes in at the same speed, is very consistent. Yeah, any three of Penske's pit crews could have won this today, I'm going to say.

CINDRIC: I think the competition has really gone up. When I look at how many teams tried out for the contest this year and the competition and the fact that Helio's team barely made the contest this year, which is a testament to the amount of competition that's out there. I think the biggest thing this contest does is it gives these guys just a little bit more confidence than maybe what they would have had going into Race Day.

MODERATOR: Let's talk about that for a second. Tim, I hate to tell you this, but we normally see a whole lot more of you during the month of May, on Pole Day and fastest days and that's something that you've prided yourself on. And this has been for you a struggle of a month. How much does this help?

CINDRIC: Well, Saturday didn't turn out how we like. We were the fastest on Thursday, we were the fastest on Friday, but we weren't fastest on the day that really paid the most. We feel like that day got away from us. I think we understand it for the most part, and this is a place where you have to put that behind us. You know, you can have that, and come Monday there won't be a lot of talk about where everybody started, it's going to have a lot to do with how you executed on Race Day. So fortunately the big race hasn't occurred yet, and I think we're well positioned there and pit stops are going to be a huge part of it.

MODERATOR: Your team always prides itself on strategy and at times have proven that. Helio has won races here where things did not go well here, Ryan. You've got some ground to make up. I would assume, given your years of strategy, more than ever these people are important to you.

BRISCOE: Yeah, definitely. But people have had -- lots of drivers that have won this race have had things happen, including Hornish in '06, and that was right at the end of the race and got a penalty. We're sitting pretty good here with 200 laps to go. We've got a good race car. Certainly, qualifying didn't go the way we wanted. It would be nice to be starting further in front. We'll certainly have to be careful on the start where we are, middle of the ninth row. A lot can happen that's out of our hands. So I'm certainly going to have to have eyes open and be on my toes. But we've got a long way to go. Roger is going to be working my strategy, and he's a master of it. I'm going to be doing my part, and my guys here will be doing their part. Hopefully it's all good enough that we can get to the front and race for the win.

Q: This is for Matt. Speaking of penalties, we saw with the D&R guys on Justin's pit stop, the dangers of what happens when somebody runs over the air hose. Those are pretty serious things that happen when the car runs over the air hose and catches one of the crew members.

JONSSON: Yeah, there's certainly a risk to this and, therefore, you need discipline. You know, like I said, cool, calm and collected is what needs to go on in pit lane really, and that goes between fuel, tires, driver and the whole kit. Something goes wrong, it's normally someone that's -- mistakes obviously happen but, also, if you panic, it just fuels the fire, so to speak. So you've just got to do your thing, and everybody does their job. It's a team, it's a team effort. If every piece of that team goes together, it's a great pit stop basically. So then it's safe, as well.

MODERATOR: Other questions from our group?

Can you relax in these next few days, Ryan?

BRISCOE: Well, you know, it's pretty busy, to tell you the truth. I've got a few appearances the rest of the day today. And tomorrow we've got the parade, which is always a lot of fun. But we've got a bit of work. We haven't had much time to sit down after final warm-up and still got a bit of work to do, but we'll do whatever it takes to be ready for the race on Sunday.

MODERATOR: I'm sure you will. And there's your group and you've got to feel proud about it.

BRISCOE: Yep, yep. I want to thank everybody, especially these guys.

MODERATOR: Thank you again for coming in.

CINDRIC: Thanks, guys.

2011 FIRESTONE FREEDOM 100

Josef Newgarden, Sam Schmidt, Esteban Guerrieri, Victor Garcia

Friday, May 27, 2011

MODERATOR: Well, gentlemen, congratulations. I'm sure Josef is on his way. Victor and Esteban, on completion of a run that, a race that had plenty of excitement. How about from your angle, Victor?

VICTORGARCIA: Well, it has been a really like short race because we have done 12 laps racing each other. It has been, though we have done really few laps, it has been really good because we have been racing Esteban, Goncalvez went into the top three, and he was really quick. They were racing each other really, really good and really careful. I was worried about because in this morning it was quite crazy. But, yeah, really fun and -- well, a podium in my first race ever oval in America, so really happy.

MODERATOR: Absolutely, when you get on the podium in your first performance here, that's got to make you feel good.

GARCIA: Yeah, yeah, really happy. I have to thank also my team and the Firestone people because they have done a great job, although we have had only like five laps today, enough -- 20 laps today and 10 laps yesterday, but yeah, really good. And thank you to all that have come. Thank you very much for coming.

MODERATOR: Esteban, the question always comes up in a situation like this when a race gets stopped early is whether or not you were going to have something at the end perhaps to take away the victory. What's your thoughts on that?

ESTEBANGUERRIERI: What do you think, I had something left?

MODERATOR: Well, I always think a guy does that's running second.

GUERRIERI: Was looking good, but if you wanted a close finish, there you are, you see the top 10 in seven seconds. Anyway, I think I had a good car from the beginning, you know. I started fifth and then I made my way up. It was also a lot of fun. It is different when you're racing than when you're practicing, you know. In the race you really commit yourself to the overtaking. I was going sixth gear flat out all around and it was working quite good. The car was working great. Then as you saw, there was a lot of safety cars and, well, in the end my plan or my idea was to pull away with Josef, you know. I had a spotter, Wade Cunningham, he was really experienced and he said push him to try to cut the tow from the third, which was him. (Laughter)

Him or Goncalvez. But to cut the tow and then we finish the race in the last few laps. You know, you just fight for the position, but only against your teammate, not against three or four. So that's what I tried to do in the first restart because there was so many - I'm confused a bit - but I tried to do it on the first restart. Then on the last restart, I lost a bit of gap and I didn't know why it was feeling a bit nervous, the car. Then straightaway the safety car, which was the last one, the long one. Then we realized my rear right tire was cut, I had two cuts, we don't know why. It just happened to a few drivers. I don't know if it was a bit lucky in a way because I would have finished the race, I think, probably I have, the car last laps to fight for a win. So it was like it was -- I'm pretty happy with the finish here in the podium and the first time here, as well. So, yeah, it was overall a good result, good points for the team. Congratulations, of course, because we're one and two, and I owe it to my sponsors, as well.

MODERATOR: Thoughts you ran over debris perhaps with the car?

GUERRIERI: You mean because of the tire?

MODERATOR: Yeah.

GUERRIERI: I don't think so. I asked the engineers because, you know, I'm also new let's say in this kind of situation. When I saw the cut tire, I said are you sure it's cut tire or kind of like even some oil around the top of the track that was stuck in there. He told me, 'Man, you have a cut tire so let's hope you don't restart again.' So it was wearing of the tire. In the end it worked out, let's say well because I don't know what would have happened if there was a restart, how I would have felt the car.

MODERATOR: Absolutely. Questions for our podium guys?

Q: Start with you, Esteban. You said you and Wade discussed trying to work with Josef to pull a gap on third place. How hard was that to do given the conditions, it was so cold and the tires getting up to temperature right away?

GUERRIERI: That's a good question because in the first restart -- sorry, the second restart, I was second and I kind of left a gap to Josef but tried to make a quick acceleration to get the tow on him but try to break the tow from the third. But as I was catching the big tow and running right behind him the first few laps, say the first lap, it felt pretty unstable, you know, and free in the rear. But I just kept the foot down. And then after that, you know, it got better but it was only one or two laps, you know. So it was quite on the limit. Good feeling, you know. But probably I don't know if it was because of the cold tires or because if I was having the cut in the tire.

GARCIA: I have to say I have exactly the same. It was like moving the rear and I seen like eight first, nine first we were struggling with the right rear tire. I didn't have that cut and I saw in the lap 25, something like that before the safety car, Pace Car came. I saw that he was struggling and I said, 'I don't know what was going to happen,' but, yeah, everyone I think we were struggling with the tires. I saw Stefan, he was a bit better. So we had a few laps, it was quite tough.

Q: I have a question to Esteban. I think you make all the European racing stuff, as I remember correctly, also Formula 3 Euro Series. How difficult is it to adapt to the oval racing and especially to the Indy Lights car?

GUERRIERI: It's a challenge, and you want to get first to the line, of course it's competition. So first of all you have to get ready yourself basically to be able to fight for a win. So I don't know, it's like a process you have to do. Of course, you learn from one day to another. I have to make my learning process is quite quick because we didn't have much of a run in the last few days, mostly yesterday. And then, you know, then I kind of trust the team, as well. I learn a lot from what they say to me. So I would say I learn a lot more out of the car than in the car. Then you need to have the trust in them to do what they tell you. Like if they say, 'Hey, guy, go in the first lap out and keep it flat and do this line or that line,' you have to be listening and then go and do it because you have no second chance. Otherwise if you don't do that, you just fall back. So, well, I did that, and from the other side of doing that I enjoy it. It's not that I am just doing it by force because it's something that I discover in the last few weeks running on ovals and it's quite an enjoyment, so I'm happy.

MODERATOR: Other questions?

Q: It's for both of you actually. Given the number of laps you've been unable to do here at Indy and oval racing coming up, how much have you learned from this race that you maybe can carry on to the next couple ovals?

GARCIA: I have to say that this oval is special because it's Indy and hasn't got a lot of banking. We have been testing and I tested in Homestead, private test after. We just did, altogether I think in Chicago and in Vegas, and this one is special. This is like a road course with a little bit of banking, fast corner but it's not with a lot of banking. I have enjoyed a lot this track because in Chicago we didn't do that much of a tow with the rest of the people, so at the next race I think it's also a really short track, they've told me. I've spoken with Hinchcliffe, and he's told me that in Milwaukee, the two best races in the season because it's like a really small track and it's like a big challenge, like two fast corners -- no, four fast corners in road course.

GUERRIERI: Yeah, basically kind of what he says. You know, like depends the track what you do in each track and now you go to a different track, you have to learn different things, you know. Hopefully the car feels good in every of them, in every of the tracks you go. And then just learning. Here even if we didn't do many laps, it's good to, like I said in the beginning, it's good to have the momentum on the race. Because it's different in testing. In testing someone close your line, you back off because you don't mind so much. Here you have to really be committed and obviously not to do any silly things. Even if we are a lot of rookies, which is probably more dangerous, but you have to try to do the job right and to stay in front. So that's basically it. Because I'm qualified, you know, we started like rank in positions but it's important I think to try to qualify good to keep it up there, you know, and try to stay in the pack.

Q: Gentlemen, fans see a race with crashes and lead changes and say, wow, that's exciting. But talk about how difficult it was for you guys, because so many yellows, you didn't get to race as much as you wanted to, right?

GUERRIERI: Yeah. What can I say? For me it was again the first time, you know, so probably wasn't as exciting as the fans. But I like it, but I was learning off the track from listening to my team. Try not to kill the tires so early, to stay in the front gap, in the front pack, sorry. Then in the end go for the win if you can. So that's what I was trying to do. It was really exciting to come from third, let's say, and keep the momentum and go around the outside and overtake two cars at 190 miles an hour. That's really cool. Then the safety cars you cannot do much, you know. It depends on what time of the race it happens. You have to try to be smart in the restarts, not to lose your draft and so on. But hopefully for the fans they had a good show. In the beginning because I know in the end they didn't. At least for a couple of laps we run full speed, they enjoyed it.

GARCIA: It was a bit -- he didn't say that, it was a bit crazy because we were a lot of rookies. We had a lot of accidents. Also, behind me there was a guy that had a big moment. Me, too, I almost crash in the one restart in the first corner. And it was, you could see it from this morning, that everyone was crazy trying to race each other. It was like the end of the world. Like 500 Indy but not in the Indy Lights in the IndyCar. It looked like that. So I don't know. Big crashes. I would like to don't have that in the rest of the races because even if I'm here and I'm in the podium, if a guy in front of me crashes, I can crash him. So I'm really happy, also, but we have to keep with the things that you asked about the crashes, and my teammate crashed. So a bit disappointing. I don't know, so many crashes; it shouldn't be like that.

Q: You said like the end of the world?

GARCIA: This morning. I was like if this is going to be the race because no one was backing up, I was with Stefan Wilson -- everyone was giving up.

Congratulations.

JOSEFNEWGARDEN: Thanks, man.

GARCIA: Everyone was giving up like the end of the world. They felt like we're in Indy, we have to win even in the free practice. I don't know that's the reason. You are looking for a race but also for a championship. So I don't know.

Q: Everybody is more excited?

GARCIA: Yeah, yeah, yeah. But it was in this morning in the free practice. If it's in the race I can understand it, but if it's in the free practice, you don't have to try -- you can try to overtake in the outside, in the inside. If someone lets you pass, it's OK, but you don't have to race like it's the end of the world because you have the race and you can try that in the race. You have to try it, but the moment is the race, and that's what happened. After the people that were working hard in everything, and this morning, and this afternoon they crashed, like four people. So that's what you see in the morning.

MODERATOR: Victor and Esteban, we'll let you go. Thank you very much for your time here. Congratulations on a great race.

GARCIA: Thank you very much.

GUERRIERI: Thank you, sir.

MODERATOR: Josef, we had you in here for a press conference very early on in the beginning of a couple of weeks. You struck me as a not only talented but confident young man. The first thing we're going to do, and remind people where you're from.

NEWGARDEN: I'm from Nashville, Tennessee, originally.

MODERATOR: Nashville, Tennessee, absolutely. Came up through the ranks, and I don't know what ranks as a racing moment for you but you're the winner at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the 100th anniversary edition of the event.

NEWGARDEN: It's certainly the largest moment in my career. But this is a victory as much for the whole team. Certainly not the way I wanted to win it. But either way, we come here as a team and work so hard to prep four race cars. If I'm not going to be in Victory Lane, we've got to make sure one of them gets there. So overall it's a good day for the entire team and what they worked for. So I'm very happy with that fact. But certainly it wasn't nice to see all the cautions and all the people. I got a little concerned that last one that people could be hurt and anything like that. You never want to see that. You want to see green flag racing and people fighting hard.

But again, a great day for the team. I'm so elated for them, they worked so hard. Everyone works on everyone's car, it's not necessarily just my team, it's everyone and all the work that goes into it on all the cars. I'm very happy for them.

MODERATOR: Should be. Questions?

Q: I feel compelled to ask you if being Sam Schmidt, the owner, you have a reputation to uphold -- he's owned this race -- not on your watch. You don't want to drop the ball, right?

NEWGARDEN: This man knows how to get it done. He knows how to put the right people together, and that's a very good skill set of his. He can put the right people in the right rooms, get them working together and moving in the right direction. That's a very important thing. I think this year is almost a breakout year for him with what he has done with his IndyCar program. He certainly put a solid plan in place there. A lot of the guys on the Lights team have translated over to that on Townsend's car. They work as a unit and know how to get the job done. That's a very positive thing to know. It's great for me, I love being a part of the team that knows how to do that. It certainly bodes well for the future, I think. I would like to be here a long time. Sam is a great guy to drive for.

Q: Question concerning the -- I'm curious, what was told to you at the drivers' briefing, you had a drivers' briefing, I suppose -- and a very nasty accident. Normally the clerk of the course, as we call them in Europe, would tell you to avoid this. Do you have an explanation why some guys are risking so much and had all these accidents?

NEWGARDEN: I can't tell you that. I think you're seeing a lot of young kids here, you have 15 rookies in a field, and sometimes it can spell disaster and sometimes it can spell excitement, too. I don't like to see it; I wish it would have been green the whole race, especially at the end. It's not the most fun way to end a race. I'm sorry that happened. I'm sure these guys are going to learn a lot from that. That's why they're rookies, they're learning. It's not a fun thing to see, but hopefully there's a lot of lessons learned here and it's not going to happen much more this year.

Q: Tell us a little bit how the tires handled in the cold conditions. How difficult was it to build a gap and even keep your car under beneath you?

NEWGARDEN: Firestone does a good job getting us a tire every weekend. They know where we're at every weekend and what we need, and they provide us with the right equipment. It was going to be difficult with the curve ball of the weather we got. Normally it's a lot warmer for a race like this and certainly you don't have a lot of rain for two weeks washing all the rubber off the track like it's done. I think it put everyone in a difficult predicament this weekend, but certainly we might have gotten a little bit of help from the cautions for saving the tires. But they held up great; there was no issues at the end.

Q: Victor said it was like in practice it was like the end of the world, they were racing in practice like it was the end of the world. Did you notice it was a little crazy as he said, so you knew OK, this is Indy, everybody is a little hyped up.

NEWGARDEN: I think it goes back to you've got 15 rookies in the field. And also the predicament, it's been raining for two weeks. We didn't have the running time we were supposed to have. These guys still had a lot of things to do; they had a lot to learn. I think it put everyone in a tight spot, and they tried to go out in that practice session and learn as much as possible by running together.

Again bringing up the weather, when it's this cool and there's not that much grip on the track, it can cause packs. It's very difficult to get away. It's hotter, it's greasier, the cars start to fan out a bit more, which you've seen in years past. The weather didn't give us that opportunity to try and make it a little bit easier and separate everyone. So I think you were seeing a lot of things happen and a lot of factors to come into play for why things happened, why we had wrecks today and why we were so aggressive in practice.

MODERATOR: Other questions? I've got one. You began the year in fine fashion, and this is one goal and it's the biggest race of the year for the Firestone Indy Lights. But there's another goal: That's the championship, and this is another good step for you toward that.

NEWGARDEN: Yeah, it is. We were talking about it before the race, and we spoke about it during the race, we're thinking championship points. That's what we keep telling ourselves is we've got to get championship points every weekend. I felt so bad for the guys in Long Beach with the incident that happened. We thought we had another win locked up; I certainly did. It was a mistake to have that mindset with five minutes to go. It was a learning lesson for myself and we've got to try and minimize that all year long. It's going to be very important to come into each and every weekend and maximize the results, whatever it is. If it's a third place, you tie that third place and take those points and move on into the next weekend. It's a long year. Still, this is only the fourth round, and we're going to see what we produce together.

MODERATOR: As a young man, where was your career pointed? Is this place where you were looking all along? Were you looking Formula One? Were you looking NASCAR? What was your mindset as a youngster?

NEWGARDEN: I would like to do everything. I think a couple guys have said that before. Maybe that sounds a little bit greedy. I'm just thankful to be in a race car. I see a lot of guys this year that are on the sidelines that haven't had quite the opportunities that I have had. It's unfortunate to see that, you would like to see everyone get a fair shot. Just to be in a car and in this type of situation where you have a good car, good team behind you and you have the opportunity to build as a driver, it's a very fortunate situation. So one hand, I'm just happy to be in a race car and working, and on the other hand I want a lot of things, I want to race in Formula One one day. It's been my ultimate goal. To race at a place like this, what guy would not attempt to win this race, the Indy 500. I'm certainly one of them. We'll see what happens. If we can win the championship this year, do really well, possibly we can get an IndyCar ride next year and do that for a couple years. We'll see, we'll see what happens. It's racing, it's very difficult to say where you're going to be going time after time because things changes so quickly, but we'll just have to see.

MODERATOR: Have you whispered this in your current owner's ear?

NEWGARDEN: I think he knows. I'm pretty sure he knows. If he doesn't know, that would be weird. Sam is a great guy. He's admirable; he's great to drive for. He's fun to be around. Everything about the guy is cool. So it's been a pleasure all year long, and I'm excited that there's still a long way to go so we can have some more fun times.

MODERATOR: Open it up again to any questions?

Q: When you came into Indy Lights was there any plan how long you want to stay just in case you win, speculation you win the championship in the very first year? Does it mean you make another year to learn or just going up the next step?

NEWGARDEN: That still goes into you've got to see what happens. Plans change very quickly. Certainly if we don't win the championship this year, then we'll have to see. Maybe there's a better opportunity in Europe next year or maybe I have the opportunity to stay here and focus on trying to win the championship for a second year. I don't know. If we don't win the championship, I'd like to stay here again. Working toward IndyCar is certainly our goal now, our current goal. So that's what we're trying to achieve. But we'll have to see. If we win the championship, then that adds new factors. So it's difficult --

Q: (Inaudible)

NEWGARDEN: Yeah, absolutely. I raced in GP3 last year and British Formula Ford the year before, so I know a lot of European teams. So, yes, I do have European contacts.

Q: I thought Sam was coming in. When they see the spelling of your name, does someone ever mistake you, must be a foreign driver?

NEWGARDEN: They've asked me this a lot. I sort of let it out a little bit. I'm an American, but I'm also Danish. My mother is actually in the room here. She hails from Denmark. So this is why you see the spelling of my name. This is a little bit of my roots from Denmark. But I grew up here. My dad is from New York. So I got a little bit of flavor, but that's what America is all about. It's about having different cultures come together and it's a good thing. So I'm proud to be where I'm from and this is why you see the F on my name. Pretty much Mom.

MODERATOR: Pretty much Mom?

NEWGARDEN: Pretty much Mom, yeah.

MODERATOR: So you mentioned at the end of the event you don't want to win one this way, but come on, when that's coming on, you know it's in the bag now. You know all you have to do is get around and you want it.

NEWGARDEN: I was thinking things were going to break. I was starting to hear this whine in the back of the car like the past two restarts and wondering what the heck it was. It was fine in the restarts and at the end there where we were just running the laps down, I wasn't sure. I definitely started to get a little bit emotional because we were going to win this race. But at the same time it's difficult to win under those conditions. You want as a driver, you want to prove it under green flag conditions certainly. I think everyone feels that way. It feels much more like a victory. But we're going to take it any way we can. We worked hard for it and I think we deserve it.

Q: Question concerning your nationality. You just mentioned you have Danish roots. Shouldn't it be a good idea to run with a Danish license? There's not much very famous drivers in Denmark.

NEWGARDEN: I am from America; I've grown up here my whole life. So this is what I know. My mom moved over here when she was younger, and this is where I'm from. It's certainly not like I want to shy away from my Danish roots, but this is my country. So that's why I have the American flag on my car, and that's why it is what it is.

MODERATOR: Your mom is still young, by the way. (Laughter)

NEWGARDEN: She knows what I mean. I tell her I love her every day.

Q: The important thing is you don't have a southern accent from Nashville. You don't sound like Tennessee. I go there once a year for the NFL games, this guy doesn't sound like a Titans' fan to me. You probably are, but you don't sound like Nashville.

NEWGARDEN: A lot of people have said that, as well.

Q: You sound normal, that's what I mean. (Laughter)

NEWGARDEN: Right, right, typical. Thank you for that, by the way. Sorry, Nashville, if you're listening. You don't sound funny to me.

Q: You don't sound like a Dane, you don't sound like you're Tennessean.

NEWGARDEN: I think when I moved to England for a couple years, that helped, sort of cleaned me up maybe a little bit. Plus I don't think my mom ever wanted me to have a Nashville accent, country accent. So that's probably had a little bit to do with it. I don't know. You know, I'm an American, so it's all good.

MODERATOR: Where did you get the personality, from your mom or dad?

NEWGARDEN: Neither. (Laughter) I don't know what they were doing that night, but they came out with me.

MODERATOR: Well, so you're the winner, the 100th anniversary. How long will it take you to come down from this one?

NEWGARDEN: Right now we need to focus on the next race. Like I said, this is just another notch. Each weekend we have to be thinking points. We got a lucky result here in getting the win and maximum points. Let's move on to the next one and see what we can get there.

MODERATOR: Thank you very much for your time, Josef, appreciate it. We're going to bring Sam in in a minute or two. You're free to wander around, hang around, do whatever it is that floats your boat but you've certainly been very kind.

NEWGARDEN: Thanks so much, guys.

MODERATOR: We're going to bring some formality to this. Phillip Wilson said, remember this also, he said you guys own this race, and that's something you would probably like to continue to own.

SAMSCHMIDT: Absolutely. For years we weren't a really, you know -- what am I thinking? We weren't really a -- my cheeks hurt. We didn't have the opportunity the last 10 years that we have this year in IndyCar. So our guys on Indy Lights said put a tremendous amount of effort into this race and setup and rubbing on the cars and we go to the wind tunnel every winter. We put a lot of effort into it, and it's all about this race. You know, every year it's special to win at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but the 100th anniversary is huge. As we said before, there will only be one of those. We really wanted to win this race, and I was disappointed the fans didn't get a Freedom 100 flag finish there. I don't know which one of them would have won, I don't know if Clauson would have made his way up to fight with them but it is truly special.

MODERATOR: One of the things it takes as you well know in this business as you moved to the IndyCar Series, and you need a guy that's the whole package. This guy seems like he has it all.

SCHMIDT: I watched Josef in Stars of Karting and at SCUSA and 14, 15, 16 years old, watched him go to Europe with Team USA Scholarship. I think that's a fantastic program because we all know the competition over there in the British Formula Ford's and Palmer Audis is huge. I think the last two-and-a-half years over there has taught him a tremendous amount, as you could see on the track today, and he's going to be a star.

MODERATOR: So you've been following this guy for some time.

SCHMIDT: That's my job.

MODERATOR: You did a good job of it. I know that we have a question here. He's got two questions.

Q: Sam, we saw in this race, particularly this race a lot of nasty accidents. Are you employing for your drivers in Indy Lights driver coaches to calm them down? And question No. 2, Indy Lights is a playing field for rookies who want to go up to IndyCar or maybe F1, wherever. What's the engineering side? Are you also employing in the Indy Lights series young engineers who want to learn the trade or are you putting experienced people on that side?

SCHMIDT: I've got to remember the first question. OK. Yes, absolutely. You know, we have in the last kind of 18 months established this Mazda Road to Indy and very proud of the fact that they've got the scholarships in place and champions are pretty much guaranteed a ride in the next level. But I think the one thing that's new at this level is the 200-mile per hour oval experience.

Today, I think if I went case by case, I could pretty much pick out what happened to some of those drivers. Whether it was picking up a little bit of push and turbulence, and when you get clear of that push, it tends to snap oversteer. Those are the things you've got to watch out for. Yes, we employed Wade Cunningham, who has won three times here in an Indy Lights car, for this entire process. And also -- sorry, I just drew a blank. But in answer to your question, absolutely, it's a critical part of the development here.

I think to some extent, I mean, that's what I think I bring to this team is that I drove the cars, I know what they feel like, and I spend a lot of time with the drivers before each race talking about strategy, talking about saving your tires, talking about all those things. And just trying to get them to not make the same mistakes I did. But we've got some very excellent spotters full season, and we invest in that heavily.

As far as the engineering, we actually have two apprentice engineers on our team right now and they're working with our full-time engineers. We employ our engineers year round as well as the rest of the staff. I think that's why we have the results we do here today.

MODERATOR: Other questions?

Q: Sam, so far this has been a great couple week and a half for you or so. Probably couldn't have gone any better. Obviously, if you win the race, that in itself is an incredible accomplishment, but then combined with what's already happened that's almost a clean sweep. Can you talk about the historical significance of that?

SCHMIDT: I am just, you know, I've been trying for the last three weeks to put this situation to words, and I am just still having extreme difficulty. You know, it's just been this, like breathing through a fire hose type of situation because we just bought the assets to the IndyCar team in March and, of course, that came with a phenomenal group of people. We've always got the Indy Lights expertise, but to have won three out of four Indy Lights races to year right now, to be top five in the points in the IndyCar Series, to roll in here and have the 77, the 99 be so incredibly quick out of the box, almost leading every day of practice, then both 77s get the pole and then win the race here today. The 100th anniversary means so much that it just kind of like multiplies everything by two. I just can't express it. I mean I feel truly blessed and give all the credit to the crews because the Indy Lights guys are working hard, the IndyCar guys are working hard, and I'm just the lucky beneficiary. So I can't describe it.

Q: With the winning today's race, do you think this will be a sign of good things to come for the weekend?

SCHMIDT: I certainly hope it is. I mean, I've been hoping and praying for that for three weeks. I would have actually given this one up on a silver platter to get Sunday. Now that we've got this one, I'm not giving anything up.

I was just out there in Victory Circle thinking I'll just stay for the next 48 hours and hopefully it comes back around, you know. But that race on Sunday is a lot more complicated than this one. I mean there's several pit stops and 33 excellent cars, closest field according to speed ever in the history. So definitely not taking anything for granted. We had a really good warm-up this morning with the Carburetion Day activities. Drivers are pumped, cars are fast. It's up to us to make the least amount of mistakes. I think that's what it comes down to.

Q: I'm sorry if I missed anything, Sam --

SCHMIDT: I'm sorry, I'm out of time. I've got to go. (Laughter)

Q: I was talking to Josef's mother, you've got to understand.

SCHMIDT: I'll give you that one. Unfortunately, he could be my kid, too. That's a problem.

Q: At 13 and he just shows up at go-kart? That doesn't happen, does it? That's a late start, isn't it?

SCHMIDT: There are definitely a lot of situations where the dads are living vicariously through their kids and should never be there in the first place. This is a situation where Josef drug his dad to the go-kart track, and the rest is history. I think he was a star from the beginning.

MODERATOR: Working the short-track world, I want to underscore that. That's absolutely correct. The motivation was his.

SCHMIDT: Absolutely, he drug his dad up there and he said, 'Hey, if I'm not fast, we can quit and go back to Tennessee and live our lives.' But he was fast right out of the box. Like I said, I think before you came in, I watched him race Star of Karting, watched him race SCUSA tour in Vegas. I go to the SCUSA race every November, and he's definitely a talent.

MODERATOR: Other questions? What do you take from the practice today in the morning? Tag seemed to be pretty happy about it, any way you slice it, you were at the top.

SCHMIDT: Exactly. I think there was still a little bit of tow factor most of what was going on there. But let's face it, next week is going to be 200 laps of towing. I think Tag is really, really pleased with the car, so is Townsend. That's what's been really great about this year, too is working in parallel, the 77, the 98 and 99 really doing everything together. So all three of them went out there with three completely different setups. Now we merge the information and 90 degrees take a stab at it.

MODERATOR: Any other thing for Sam? Last one, that's fine.

Q: Sam, just a question to understand the situation with your IndyCar team. Was this a planned decision to take, to buy the team or just it became quickly available? Or did you plan already to own an IndyCar team?

SCHMIDT: I think people, with our success here and success in Indy Lights, have been asking for years would I get back in the IndyCar Series full time, and I said absolutely - if we had the ability to run it at the caliber we run our Indy Lights team. That takes fantastic people, it takes good resources and basically Rob Edwards, Alan MacDonald, Brendon Cleave, Phil McRoberts, Donnie Oldenburg, all of those guys are fantastic, and obviously Alex got the job done, as well. I didn't have to reinvent the wheel, and we wouldn't be here at all if it wasn't for Joe Atkins, Bowers & Wilkins Speakers. So all of those things allowed me to do it at hyperspeed at the top level. So it's really about the quality of the guys and quality equipment that we were able to get.

Human Rights Watch tells F1 to ditch BahrainThe international racing bodies responsible for scheduling Formula One events should take full account of continuing serious human rights violations when they consider rescheduling a 2011 race in Bahrain, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch expressed its concerns in a letter sent jointly to the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA).

The government cancelled the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix, which had been scheduled for March, due to widespread pro-democracy and anti-government protests. On June 3, at a meeting in Barcelona, the FIA is expected to decide whether to reschedule the event for later in the year. Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa recently decreed that martial law, imposed on March 15, would be lifted on June 1, a few days before the FIA meeting.

Daytona unveils major Budweiser extensionAmerican Brewing firm Anheuser-Busch will continue its major sponsorship agreement with the Daytona International Speedway, having signed a multi-year renewal with the International Speedway Corporation (ISC)-operated track.

The company’s Budweiser brand will remain the exclusive official beer sponsor of the Daytona International Speedway and title sponsor of Budweiser Shootout – the invitational exhibition event held at the track the week before the Daytona 500, the first race of the Nascar Sprint Cup Series. Budweiser became title sponsors of the non-points Shootout in 1979, before partnering with the Daytona International Speedway as the official beer sponsor in 2006.

Indy 500 Traffic Expected To Be ChallengingOfficials warned Friday that fans headed to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 100th anniversary running of the Indianapolis 500 need to plan ahead and may need to adjust their routes.

With hundreds of thousands of people converging to one spot, traffic will undoubtedly be an issue Sunday, and ongoing construction projects will contribute to the challenges, 6News' Joanna Massee reported.

State and local officials are working to keep as many lanes open as possible.

Briscoe, crew continue Penske dominance of IZOD Indy 500 Pit Stop ChallengeTeam Penske extended its supremacy over the IZOD Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge when Ryan Briscoe won the title for the first time in his career Friday, May 27 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Penske team earned a record 13th victory in the annual contest, and Penske has won the competition in the last six years it has been contested, as it was rained out in 2008. Helio Castroneves, the winner of the last four Pit Stop Challenges, was eliminated in the first round Friday by Ryan Hunter-Reay.

CDW Jumps Back in the Drivers Seat with Newman/Haas Racing Car in Indy 500CDW LLC, a leading provider of technology solutions to business, government, education and healthcare, today announced it will be the major sponsor of the No. 2 Newman/Haas Racing (NHR) Car driven by Oriol Servia in the 2011 Indianapolis 500.

"As a leader in technology solutions, we make technology work for our customers and deliver results with speed and accuracy," said John A. Edwardson, chairman and chief executive officer, CDW. "Like CDW, Newman/Haas 'Gets IT.' Our sponsorship of the No. 2 car in the Indianapolis 500 will further associate our brand with excellence and performance in one of the world’s most prominent sporting events."

Indy Carb Day NotebookCompetitors in iRacing.com computer racing simulation will participate in the second annual iRacing.com Indy 500 on Saturday, May 28.

iRacing.com drivers will race 200 laps in a virtual versions of a Dallara chassis at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, with a laser-scanned track surface creating the ultimate in realism.

A record number of entries is anticipated for this year's iRacing.com Indy 500. But unlike the Indianapolis 500, everyone who enters the iRacing.com Indy 500 will be able to participate in the race. That's because the iRacing system can stage multiple numbers of 500-mile races simultaneously, each with 33 racers from around the world competing online. The system automatically assigns drivers to races based on their skill and experience levels, ensuring everyone enjoys a competitive race.

BorgWarner to supply IndyCar turbochargersBorgWarner will be the exclusive provider of turbochargers for the Izod IndyCar Series starting in 2012. The deal runs through the 2016 season, and the announcement was made on Friday, days before the 100th anniversary of the first running of the race.

BorgWarner's Engineered for Racing (EFR) turbochargers introduce Gamma titanium-aluminide wheels, stainless-steel turbine housing and ceramic ball bearings. However, given that the EFR turbochargers were originally designed for performance enthusiasts, BorgWarner used weight-reduction techniques and end-housings to ensure racing-quality performance.

IndyCar hasn't allowed turbochargers since its separation from CART in 1996. The league decided to [copy CART/Champ Car in yet another area and] allow turbochargers to generate greater competition and enhance fuel economy.

Manager rules out Friday sessions for KubicaDaniele Morelli, manager of Robert Kubica, has rubbished stories that the injured Polish driver could take part in Friday practice sessions this year to test his recovery from the injuries he sustained in a pre-season rally.

Gerard Lopez, boss of Renault owners Genii Capital, has been quoted in the media saying that Kubica could be seen later this season in Friday sessions. In Monaco, however, Morelli said: "When Robert comes back it will be to compete for podiums, not to drive in Friday sessions. I don't know where that came from. It is not in our plans at all."

Fiat to buy remaining US stake in ChryslerItalian automaker Fiat SpA said Friday that it will buy the Treasury's remaining stake in Chrysler Group LLC, freeing the automaker of U.S. government ownership.

The Turin, Italy-based company notified the U.S. Treasury Department that it will exercise an option to buy the government's 6 percent stake. The price will be negotiated within 10 business days, or by around June 10.

It was unclear from Fiat statement's Friday just when the sale would happen. But Fiat is moving quickly to take a controlling stake in Chrysler, which it has run since the company left bankruptcy protection in June of 2009.

IndyCar CEO sounds off about team owners, Hunter-Reay, moreEven in the midst of celebrating the centennial running of the Indianapolis 500, IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard has his eyes fixed on the future.

Specifically, Bernard realizes the decisions he makes about the series’ new engine and chassis package to be rolled out in 2012 are critically important to the racing enterprise’s short-term and long-term success.

The open-wheel series hasn’t had new car specifications since 2003, and fans have become displeased with the lack of upgrades to the cars.

Michael Mann in Talks to Develop and Direct Fox Film About 1967 Le MansMichael Mann is in talks with 20th Century Fox to develop and potentially direct Go Like Hell, the real-life story of the famous competition between the Ford Motor Co. and Ferrari that led to Ford winning the Le Mans in 1967.

Ford was the first American car maker to win the world’s oldest car race, held in France. For years, Ferrari had dominated the contest.

Based on A.J. Baime’s book, the Fox project recounts how a young Henry Ford II — determined to infuse new life into his family’s company — decided to get into the European racing scene.

Monaco Grand Prix track springs a leakA small stream of water was found to be flowing across the pit straight, forcing Thursday session to be red-flagged for around five minutes as officials investigated the problem.

It is suspected that a water pipe under an area of track that was recently resurfaced had burst, pushing water up to the surface, with the gradient of the circuit causing it to run across the grid.

However, it looks like the drivers will have to put up with the minor water hazard, as race organizers will not be able to dig up the tarmac to repair the problem.

Newgarden was the first American winner of the Freedom 100 since Ed Carpenter won the inaugural race in 2003 and leads Guerrieri in the point standings by 26 points (151-125). Victor Garcia finished third in the No. 22 TMR-Xtreme Coil Drilling car.

JAMES WINSLOW (No. 26 Andretti Autosport): "I came through Turn 1 and somebody had spun, I think Gustavo, perhaps five places in front of me. As I came through the corner, there was just a wall of blue smoke, so I couldn't see where to go. I tried to slow down as much as I could."

BRYAN CLAUSON (No. 77 Mazda Road to Indy/CURB Records/Sam Schmidt Motorsports): "I fell back early there and really didn't really do my job there at the beginning. I had a hard time figuring it out for a little while. I didn't have enough green flag laps to make up for those mistakes early on. All the guys on the car did a great job; I had a great race car. I made a lot of moves on the high line, but it just wasn't enough. It was a whole new ball game, a lot different than anything I've ever done. I could have done a little bit better, but all in all it was a great day." (About race-ending accident on Lap 35): "We got a big run behind the draft. It looked like the 9 car got low. Everybody just ran out of room. We were going for it." (About debut): "This is huge (finishing fifth). It's a whole new experience for me, from the starts to the restarts, to the draft, shifting in the middle of a race - that's unheard of for me. It was a lot wilder than I expected, but it was a lot of fun." (About advice from Dario Franchitti before the race): "I've been talking to Dario ever since we did the stock car stuff together with each other (with Ganassi Racing in 2008). We have a very good relationship. He told me he would come out and give me a hard time on the straightaway, and he made it happen."

CHASE AUSTIN (No. 75 Willy T. Ribbs/Starting Grid Inc./BAR): "It was pretty cool. We had little issues. The gearing was a little off, so I couldn't really pass anybody by myself. The only way I'd get to pass anybody is when they'd check up in the corner. I just kind of had to be more ballsy than they were, which worked out for the most part. The car started going away a little bit in the end before we took that right rear tire. And just the cautions hurt us a lot on the restarts. But besides that, I have to thank American Honda, because without them we wouldn't be here; Chris Miles and Willy T. for putting me in the car." (On the competition and racing): "You could kind of tell a lot of the guys who haven't run ovals that much from some that have just by how comfortable they were in race situations. Some of them were great by themselves, but as soon as you got outside or inside of them, that's when they tended to lift or something like that. I really capitalized on that, my experience from doing stuff his compared to what they have." (On his partnership with Willy T. Ribbs this week): "It's been good. It's been fun doing interviews with him. I'm just glad he gave me the opportunity."

RUSTY MITCHELL (No. 17 Motorola/Petro Comm/Skip Barber): "Well, since the league decided not to qualify, I had to start in the back. Really, I got to see the whole show. It was all right in front of me. I wish I would have had a camera on my car so everyone could have enjoyed it. You know, at one point, who would have thought at Indy you could hit the wall, you could hit a car and still make up like 10 positions. It was wild, that's for sure. Everybody was really going for it on all the restarts. It cost them, and we were able to make up some spots. If we were able to qualify, we would have been in the top three, no question."

STEFAN WILSON (No. 5 Andretti Autosport):"I'm pretty disappointed, really. I can't believe that they had us driving around under the caution for so many laps. They (Anders Krohn and Jorge Goncalvez) were in bad shape. It looked like a really bad accident. There was debris everywhere. In my opinion, they should have red-flagged it and taken time to clean the track. Instead, we just drove around wasting time. The fans didn't come out here to watch a parade of cars go around on the yellow flag. They wanted to see a race, and we never got to do it. Traditionally, this race has been won in the last 10 laps. I was biding my time, looking after my tires, and mine were looking the best of anyone out here. It was shaping up to be a good finish. If we had had a clear race and we weren't just driving around under caution, we might have won it."

PETER DEMPSEY (No. 36 Pulse/O2 Racing): "It was crazy. I got a great start, and I was up to fourth or fifth the first few laps. I was just trying to keep the car underneath me. Unfortunately, went the wrong way with the rear bar. I had too much push, and it dropped me back to 13th. Under the first yellow, I realized what I had done. After that, the car was really good. I was coming back up the field. I made a mistake under the safety car and spun and was back to the back. Then I got probably got back to sixth. This car was good. The rear tires are great but a little bit too late. There was too much safety cars for me."

DAVID OSTELLA (No. 16 Global Precast Team Jensen): "That was awesome. It was a great experience to be out there. A lot of stuff happened. I was kind of worried more about the weather because a little spit was coming down, but a big thing was tires. Tires were a huge factor for this race. We pitted for the right rear and went back out there, and I kind of got screwed with all of the yellows coming out. It happens. I think a lot of those spins and crashes were from the tires. But it was just awesome. It was a great experience out there, and I want to thank my engineer, Remi Lanteigne, for all of the work he did on that car. The car was awesome. It handled incredibly well on the high line and the low line. My crew chief, Mike Le Gallic, him and the rest of the crew did an awesome job this weekend. I had a little mishap in practice this morning, and they were able to put that car back together for the race."

MIKAEL GRENIER (No. 63 Cell Safety/O2 Racing): "In the beginning, we were good. We were headed to the front. We decided to pit and change a tire, but we mistimed it and only changed the rear right tire. I couldn't turn after that. My right front went away, and that was that. It ended up being kind of a yellow flag race. It was a bit disappointing because we had a car to get to the front. We'll just have to take it this time and do better in Milwaukee." (On racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway): "It's pretty cool. It's a pretty tough race. This is a pretty special year, and there are a lot of people here today. I think the racing here is great. I hope I can get back here next year."

ESTEBAN GUERRIERI (No. 7 Lucas Oil/Sam Schmidt Motorsports): "It was fun for a while and a bit slow the rest of the race. It was a lot of yellows, we didn't expect so many, but I'm happy to win second, of course. I had a flat tire in the end, so my last race car wasn't so aggressive. But what we we're trying to do to make a teamwork with my teammate, Josef, we try to pull away and make the gap toward the third, so then we could finish the race like me and him to race against each other. But unfortunately it wasn't like this. All the guys crashed with Josef and he was fine, and thanks to my sponsors it was a big first race in Indianapolis, and I'm really happy. Thanks to the team to Lucas Oil and all my sponsors and let's go for the next one." (About his chances if the race resumed): "Well, as I said, I was trying to pull the gap with him and then fight with him in the last lap, but I didn't see my car and my right rear tire was flat. It just lost a lot of grip in the last restart and then I when I parked I see the rear that was no grip in anymore with the flat tire. I was a bit lucky to have the safety flag there to finish the race because I don't know if I would have been able to finish if it was green all the way long."

VICTOR GARCIA (No. 22 TMR-Xtreme Coil Drilling): "I'm pretty happy to all my crew, and I have to thank all of them because although we haven't had a normal weekend, it has been really good and we finished third. I think we could have won because we had what it takes to win, but we didn't have the laps to do it. So yeah, I'm really happy."

ANDERS KROHN (No. 9 Liberty Engineering Racing Special): "It was one of those races where absolutely everything happened. We were so fast, and we took the lead. It was so easy running it up there. Then a caution came out, and I just went to go to power and the rear slide around on me. After that point, we really didn't have the speed because our tires were flat-spotted. Luckily another caution came out and we pitted for new tires, and then we were super, super quick. I think by the time our big crash happened we were up to fourth. It would have been the easiest thing to at least be on the podium or potentially win the race. I'm so disappointed for the guys at Belardi Auto Racing because we really had the fastest car today. We could run up, down low; it didn't matter. We were so fast. It's just a shame for the guys at Liberty Engineering and Logitrans that we couldn't bring it home today. At the same time, I think we've shown people where our speed is, so hopefully we can come back next year and dominate this race."

JOSEF NEWGARDEN (No. 11 Copart/Score Big/Robo-Pong/SSM): "This is unbelievable. Look at how fired up my team is because they have worked so hard the past two weeks on getting this car ready. This is a wonderful achievement for my team, and it means so much to me and Sam Schmidt. This race means a lot to Sam, and I am grateful to give him the victory. I think we are going to have a good shot with the Indy 500, as well. I have to thank Esteban Guerrieri for helping me the whole race. He is a great teammate to work with. The team was able to make me quick, and I got up to speed right away. It is unfortunate for my other teammates that weren't able to be up here with us, but this is just a showcase as to what this team can do and how powerful they are. This is the biggest win I think I have ever had. To win the Firestone Freedom 100 in front of this crowd at this famous racetrack is incredible. This has been a really fun experience trying to come in and absorb all of the information that my team has to offer. This has been a huge effort by everybody, and this is a win for the entire team."

Team Lotus Statement on beating Group Lotus in courtTeam Lotus is very pleased with the judgment in the dispute with Group Lotus and does not intend to appeal any of the key findings. As Group Lotus has already announced its intention to seek leave to appeal the Judge’s decision on the headline argument in this case it is clear they do not feel they have won. There are a number of points that are interesting to note in the Judge’s findings which invalidate any claim of victory by Group Lotus in the main cause of this action:

The Judge ruled that Team Lotus owns the separate goodwill in the "Team Lotus" name and roundel and we cannot be prevented by Group Lotus from using either of them in relation to Formula 1 racing. This was their headline argument in this case and the primary objective of Group Lotus was to stop us racing under the Team Lotus name. On this point they have lost.

IndyCar announces restart rules for Indy 500IZOD IndyCar Series president of competition and operations Brian Barnhart and staff measured various portions of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway frontstretch this week, plugged in section speed data and talked with numerous drivers in an effort to determine the best option for two-wide restarts for the 100th anniversary Indianapolis 500 with respect to safety and competition.

The determination, which was laid out at the drivers’ meeting May 27:

• IZOD IndyCar Series drivers proposed a mid-range RPM, second-gear restart (about 115-120 mph) when they hit the restart line. • That will be 900 feet before the start/finish line (where the refueling tank for Simona de Silvestro, the first car at pit in, will be on Race Day), which will put the speed at about 150 mph at the start/finish line. Drivers are not allowed to improve their position until they cross the start/finish line.• It’s 1,800 feet from de Silvestro’s pit box to the turn-in point of Turn 1, which puts the speed at about 183 mph (the start/finish line is not in the middle of the frontstretch).• Three car lengths are required between rows.• Drivers are to get in double file coming off Turn 2 (using the paving seams as reference on the backstretch).

Dixon and Tagliani top Carb Day speeds at IndyScott Dixon hopes Miller Lite Carb Day is again a good indication of Indianapolis 500 Race Day.

Dixon, who will start the 2010 Indianapolis 500 from the middle of the front row, topped the speed chart for the final practice session, the final opportunity for teams to fine-tune their cars before Race Day.

Dixon, driving the No. 9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing car, topped the speed chart with a quick lap of 225.474 mph and was the only driver over 225 mph. Pole sitter Alex Tagliani (224.739 mph) and defending race winner Dario Franchitti (224.658 mph) were right behind. Franchitti led the final practice in 2010 before winning the race.

Primary sponsors for the Indy 500The 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to be held Sunday, and the following lists the primary sponsors for the 33 cars entered in the field (THE DAILY).

Jensen MotorSport owner Eric Jensen told AR1.com, "Our car is fine for the Indy Lights race. David only had light contact and damaged the front wing main plane."

05/27/11 Two Indy Lights drivers crashed in morning warm-up today. Victor Carbone and David Ostella were checked at the medical center and approved to drive in today's race if their cars can be repaired.

Team Lotus wins court battle over use of Lotus nameUPDATE Group Lotus said it is "concerned that this aspect of the judgment will cause confusion in the eyes of spectators and the wider public".

"(We) are confident of success on appeal," it added.

05/27/11 Team Lotus is very happy that the court case concerning the rights to the Team Lotus name has today come to a positive conclusion and that the team can now focus its full attention on its long-term challenge for honors on and off track. The decision confirms that Team Lotus is the true owner of the full Team Lotus name and the iconic roundel, establishing in law that the Anglo-Malaysian team is the rightful heir to Team Lotus and all associated goodwill.

Team Principal Tony Fernandes gave his comments on behalf of his fellow shareholders Kamarudin Meranun, SM Nasarudin and the 250 strong workforce based in Malaysia and Hingham, UK:

TAG Heuer enters the Monaco Grand PrixAs part of its 2011 “Mastering Speed” commemoration of its most famous source of inspiration — a century and a half of professional motorsports — TAG Heuer is now an official partner of the Monaco Grand Prix, the world’s most glamorous race organized by Automobile Club of Monaco (ACM).

The historical agreement was formally signed on May 27th, 2011 on the legendary starting grid of the Grand Prix by Jean-Christophe Babin, President and CEO of TAG Heuer, and Michel Boéri, President of the Automobile Club of Monaco.

As the Official Watch and Eyewear of the Monaco Grand Prix, TAG Heuer will have a visible presence throughout this year’s race, with TAG Heuer flags prominently displayed on bridges and trackside and a special starting-grid event showcasing the famous Formula One “grid girls”. At the start of the race, the 24 stunning women will hold up boards bearing the racecar drivers’ names while wearing Formula 1 Lady Steel and Ceramic watches, TAG Heuer Avant-Garde eyewear and specially designed TAG Heuer mini-dresses inspired by Steve McQueen’s racing suit in the movie Le Mans.

Slower speeds for starts and restarts at IndyIndianapolis 500 officials are banking on slower speeds for starts and restarts to prevent chaos in Sunday's 100th anniversary race.

Chief steward Brian Barnhart said Thursday that the pack should get to the first turn about 30 to 40 mph slower than in the past, and that should allow for two-wide action.

The Izod IndyCar Series has turned to NASCAR-like double-file restarts following caution periods, an idea pushed by second-year boss Randy Bernard. The start of the 500 still will be three-wide, but there will be a later acceleration point allowing for better formation.

Nitro Rewind Englishtown editionThis week’s episode of Nitro Rewind will preview the 42nd annual SuperNationals on the NHRA YouTube channel. The show, an internet based broadcast, is hosted by Bill Stephens and features interviews from Top Fuel and Funny Car NHRA competitors as they look ahead to Englishtown and review Topeka’s national event.

“I can’t believe it has taken four shows but my dad, John Force, makes his Nitro Rewind debut in this episode. He is so excited about going to Englishtown which is the race closest to Castrol our long-time sponsor,” said Ashley Force Hood, John Force Entertainment president. “We also caught up again with Cruz (Pedregon) and Terry (McMillen) again which is always interesting.”

Davide Valsecchi has taken the most momentous victory of his career with a crushing display in this afternoon's feature race in Monaco, leading from the start to finish apart from his pitstop to capture Team AirAsia's first race win ahead of Alvaro Parente and Luca Filippi.

The victory was set up at the start when poleman Sam Bird bogged down at the start as the grid stormed off around him: the Italian led the field off the line, with Parente and Stefano Coletti banging wheels as they tried to avoid the flailing Briton, and Giedo van der Garde making a strong start to follow them through Ste Devote ahead of Josef Kral and Jules Bianchi.

Lewis Hamilton has accused Toro Rosso's drivers of blocking him to assist Sebastian Vettel of their sister team Red Bull.

Speaking after the first day's practice at Monaco, Hamilton claimed he was baulked during the Spanish Grand Prix, costing him time and meaning he was unable to get in a position to overtake Vettel, who eventually beat him by less than a second.

"That kind of thing shouldn't happen because they are not supposed to be a sister team, are they?" Hamilton said. "Definitely in the last race there was some of that … all of a sudden moving in my way, which caused a bigger gap, the gap that I closed to Sebastian and I then lost. They let him past and held me up for the next couple of corners.

John Doonan Named Director of Mazda MotorsportsMazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced that John Doonan, manager of motorsports team development, has been promoted to Director, Mazda Motorsports, effective immediately. In his new role, Doonan will be responsible for all motorsports activities in North America and will report to Jay Amestoy, vice president, public affairs and motorsports.

"John has played a key role in Mazda's growth and success in the motorsports arena and has been instrumental expanding our strategic racing partnerships," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO of MNAO. "This promotion should serve to underscore John's contribution to our overall business, as well as the importance motorsports plays in Mazda's corporate strategy."

Cory McClenathan enters Australia's WinternationalsAs far as last minute inclusions into the 44th Castrol EDGE Winternationals Top Fuel field goes – they don’t come much bigger than NHRA superstar, Cory McClenathan – who will take to the wheel of a Rapisarda Racing machine for the event at Willowbank Raceway, June 10-13.

With 34 NHRA final round wins from 71 finals appearances to his credit, ‘Cory Mac’ is a stellar inclusion into the field.

The 47-year-old was approached with the opportunity by Australian Top Fuel stalwart Santo Rapisarda at the recent Topeka NHRA round, and it was an invitation he was quick to accept.

ON HURTING HIS RIGHT FOOT THIS PAST WEEK"I stepped on a piece of metal on my boat ramp (right foot) and sliced it open."

DO YOU HAVE STITCHES?"Yeah, there are 20 stitches."

WILL YOU HAVE TO USE ANY SPECIAL PADDING OR ANYTHING FOR SUNDAY'S RACE?"Yeah, there's a carbon insert in my foot that we kind of cut around. The wound is on the outside of the foot. It's on the bottom but toward the outside behind my pinky toe. They cut out a piece of carbon for the other side to make it stiffer. And it's fine. There's no pain or anything, it's just that the doctors are worried about it ripping open and then if it rips the stitches, then it's a big deal with infection and stuff. Right now, what's throwing me off the most right now is that my shoes are too big. I had to get bigger shoes for my right foot. Well, they both are. It's hitting the gas pedal wrong. So I'm going to have to find some different shoes and I'll be okay."

Doctor's still do not know what ails BayneHaving been out since late April, Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne hopes to return to the track next weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. It has been week to week for the driver since his health issues surfaced in April. So far, Bayne still doesn't have a diagnosis for what was wrong with him. When he checked into the Mayo Clinic a month ago, his main symptoms were nausea, fatigue and double vision. He was admitted to a Charlotte hospital the week before.

"I think I finally just had to accept that nobody knows," Bayne said. "I can promise if I was just tired or not feeling great I would've still been in the race car because I'm a racer. But I went to bed Monday feeling great and woke up Tuesday seeing double." He said he's felt fine for about a week, but team officials wanted to stay on the cautious side and hold him out of Sunday's Coca-Cola 600. "Last week I took off as a caution, and this week, they made me take it off as a caution," Bayne said. Charlotte Observer

Raikkonen plans after Charlotte unknownKimi Raikkonen was vague Thursday about his NASCAR plans, indicating little more than he'd like to do a Sprint Cup race, maybe on the road course on Sonoma. The former Formula One world champion will run the Nationwide Series race Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and revealed nothing more about his schedule. The most telling update came from Kyle Busch, who said he has nothing else planned with Raikkonen after this weekend. That's a change from when their deal was announced: Busch said Raikkonen would run three to five races for Kyle Busch Motorsports. What's changed? Money. "The contract states that we're supposed to receive so much, and we have not. We've only received enough for these two races," Busch said. "It's either up to Kimi or up to the financial people that run Kimi's business side of things and decide that they need to find the sponsorship funds in order to carry the experience for him further." Raikkonen said he heads back to Europe on Saturday after the race. "I have other things to do," he said. "After that, I don't know when I will be back. I have rally in Greece and some other rallies." Associated Press

Almost everyone who has ever been to Indianapolis Motor Speedway agrees it is special. The facility seats more than 250,000. During its glory years, an estimated 400,000 attended the Indianapolis 500. On race day, the infield turned into a small city, parts of which you wouldn't want wives, daughters or sisters to visit.

Sunday's Indy 500 marks the centennial of the prestigious race, though only the 95th running of the race (no races were held in 1917 and '18 during World War I, and 1942-45 during World War II). Ray Harroun won the first Indy race in 1911.

Following a split in 1995 between the U.S. Auto Club and Championship Auto Racing Teams over control of open-wheel racing, the Indy 500's stature diminished, as several top drivers raced in the CART series. The Indy race has gradually worked its way back onto the national sports radar. "A lot of the energy is back," Mario Andretti, winner of the 1969 Indy 500, said this week from Indianapolis. "The field is strong. You'll probably see one of the best races ever, because the field is so competitive. A lot of the drivers who were strangers a couple years ago are becoming known names."

ABC hopes to end Indy ratings woesThe running Sunday of the Indianapolis 500 will be the 100th anniversary of the fabled event at the Brickyard, and although it again is a highlight on the sports calendar it has lost much of its luster as a major television force.

Ratings haven't soured as much as if the bottle of milk that the winner traditionally drinks had been left out in the sun all day, but the numbers say stock car racing's key event continues to zoom by open wheel racing's showcase spectacle.

NASCAR's Daytona 500 has out-rated the Indy 500 for the last 15 years, something that had happened only twice in the previous 22 years. Since 2000, Daytona has more than doubled Indy's rating most times. And Indy has beaten the Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR's race that runs the same night, only once in the last five years. That came in 2009, when the Coke race was rained out and run the following afternoon.

IndyCar to change dramatically in 2012Bryan Herta couldn't ask for a better situation heading into 2012. He considered expanding his one-car race team this year, then realized it made more sense to wait until next year when sweeping changes to the cars' design and engine take effect.

After years of using just Honda engines, the IndyCar series will add manufacturers Chevrolet and Lotus next season. The cars' uniform appearance also will disappear. The bodywork on the Dallara rolling chassis can be modified within certain specifications, allowing the cars to become unique both in appearance and performance.

With the current cars in use since 2003, the new IndyCar era begins Jan. 1, wiping the slate clean for all teams — from single-car outfits to IndyCar giants Penske and Ganassi.

Herta said the transition makes this the perfect time for his team to grow.

IndyCar veteran Paul Tracy geared up for Sunday’s Indianapolis 500 by launching a fierce attack at NASCAR and accusing America’s most popular form of racing as being a “boring” spectacle which dupes its fans into believing contrived rivalries.

Tracy, a controversial figure who won the Champ Car World Series in 2003 and finished second in the 2002 Indy 500 – a race he still contends he won – has spent his entire career in open-wheel racing and made no secret of his disdain for NASCAR in an interview with Yahoo! Sports on Thursday.

“I can’t watch a NASCAR race on TV without taking a three-hour nap in the middle of it,” Tracy said. “I have been to races. It is too long and too loud. I don’t really like it. NASCAR is having some trouble with its ratings because it just goes on for such a long time. The exciting part is just the last 25 or 30 laps. In [IndyCar], it is a race from the start to the finish.

With a market share of 5.5 percent (2010) Audi is the most successful premium brand in Austria. Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich was born in Vienna. The two-time DTM champion Timo Scheider lives in Austria. And in Red Bull Audi Sport has a strong Austrian partner. These are four good reasons for Audi to shine at the DTM’s grand Austrian comeback at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg on June 5.

Mercedes-Benz driver Bruno Spengler is traveling to the Austrian province of Styria as the leader of the standings. But breathing down his neck are four Audi drivers, Mike Rockenfeller, Martin Tomczyk, Mattias Ekström and Timo Scheider. Some of them have already contested several races at Spielberg before. During the tests on Thursday most of the other racers have to first get to know the track, which has been rebuilt in true-to-the-original fashion by energy drink manufacturer Red Bull after the dismantling of the former A1 Ring.

A child seat fit for IndyCarHere's a partnership you wouldn't normally expect to see - Dorel, the world's largest maker of car seats, and Bald Spot Sports, a U.S. maker of seats for professional race car drivers.

The two companies are teaming up in a joint research venture to developer new, safer materials for car seats.

The reason for the partnership is due in part to Dorel's interest in BSS' specially-designed foam material, which surrounds drivers and holds them in place during impact, reducing the likelihood of injury. xxxx

Dorel says that "the foam material, in combination with the geometrical shape the foam takes when applied to a car seat, is allowing side impact forces to be absorbed and directed away from the child occupant."

BSS says that the foam is used by up to 80% of Indy car drivers, as well on other professional face circuits such as NASCAR and Nationwide.

"As the global leader in our Juvenile categories we must continue to fund projects dedicated to maintaining our leadership in safety and innovative design. This is the type of forward thinking that sets us apart from the competition. We have a responsibility to design products with the highest standards of quality and safety," said Dorel President and CEO, Martin Schwartz.

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